Circle of Prayer and Healing Katy Zatsick Karen Kerrigan Program for Feb 7, 2025 Living In the Reign of God!

 

 

 

We live in challenging political and moral times. What is our grounding as we live in this emotional, spiritual and cultural turmoil?  Our historic norms, institutions and government are being thrown out, changed, or dismantled. Let us reflect on Reign of God, Jesus’ teaching of non-violence, and our intentions and responses as an individual and in community 

 

Let us each share for a minute or two: “How am I feeling after the inauguration and the actions Congress and the President are proposing/taking?’ (We will share more about this later)

 

Reader 1: Readings from Fr. John Dear 

We will be using readings from the latest book by John Dear, “The Gospel of Peace; A Commentary on Matthew, Mark, and Luke from the Perspective of Non-violence” 

 

As we practice and teach Jesus’ teachings of universal love, universal compassion and total nonviolence, we find ourselves in the kin-dom of God right now. We can explore how the Kin-dom of God is within us as individuals…and we can also notice signs of the kin-dom of God among us as a community—(in our local communities), church, among our friends and family as we share meals and celebrate life, and among those who participate in the grass root movement for justice, disarmament and creation. There especially, as we carry on Jesus’ campaign to proclaim God’s reign, we will experience God’s reign inside us and among us as we press forward in the public work of God’s justice and peace. (pg. 338-339)

 

Reader 2: We know that we are being invited into God’s reign by the nonviolent Jesus, we take Luke’s warning to heart to live intentionally, prayerfully, mindfully, nonviolently focused on Jesus, trusting in God.  As followers of the nonviolent Jesus, we are determined not to serve the culture of death or the idols of death, including any rulers or militaries, instead, we intend to spend every moment serving the God of life.  We take heart because, through Jesus, we are now entering God’s reign of peace and universal love…Gospel nonviolence is now the boundary within which we live, breath, pray, think, and act. (pg. 341)

 

Katy: Meditation Meeting Jesus in Luke 17:20-21

The Pharisees asked Jesus when the reign of God would come. Jesus replied, “The reign of God doesn’t come in a visible way. You can’t say, see here it is!’ Or “There it is! No—look, the reign of God is already in your midst.”

(Katy will lead a guided meditation, and a couple of minutes for you to write your experience)

 

Karen: Daily Practices: What is God’s call to you at this time to live in and to build up the reign of God? 

Today, I wish to share with you my reflections about Diana Butler Bass’ daily practices which are attached. The methods are for helping each of us to pay attention to what Our Beloved may be calling us to do during these times we live in?  What can we do to help build up the Reign of the Kin-dom in our midst? I believe daily practices such as Diana’s can help us avoid reactionary behaviors of fight, flight and freeze and help us to come out at our own lives and world in nonviolent ways. 

Diana’s reflection connects this experience with a parable found in the seventh chapter of Matthew. The one about the house that was built on a rock and withstood the storm. She asks her readers, how is my own spiritual house built for the times I am living in today? What can I do to better my own inner household?

In her writing, Diana offers us ten daily practices, called The Ten W’s, that I might use to help form and maintain my spiritual house on a solid foundation to weather the storms of these times. The Ten Ws are: Wake up, Welcome the Day, Walk, be With others, Work, Write, Watch the news, practice Wide-sight, Weep and Wonder.

Wake up! Some days, just getting out of bed may seem like a struggle. Welcome the Day! Greet every day with gratitude. Just saying thank you is enough prayer, says Meister Eckhart.

Walk! My best walks are outdoors with nature. 

Be With others!  As a single person, living alone, I find getting out and being with others to be an essential part of boosting my morale. 

The next method is Work! The structure and routine of my job helps me to organize my other days. We need to pace ourselves and balance work with rest. 

Write! Her idea reminds me of the morning pages, a personal journal.

Watch the news! As you are able. Balancing the news with positive reading can help with my perspective. 

 Wide-sight! What can I do to broaden my perspectives to better discern what is mine to do and what is not?

 Weep! I’ll never forget hearing that after the events of 9/11, the government of Ireland declared a National Day of Mourning! When a news reporter asked, why would Ireland take a day of mourning for something that happened in the United States? The response was that “Americans do not know how to grieve and mourn.”Laughter is also important. What brings joy to you? I remember hearing the wise saying, “what you can laugh at, does not own you!” 

Wonder! Diana says zzz’Awe is pro-social and has been shown to reduce polarization!”  What brings awe and wonder to you? 

Once again, The Ten W’s are: Wake up, Welcome the Day, Walk, be With others, Work, Write, Watch the news, practice Wide-sight, Weep and Wonder. Diana believes and I agree, that working with these daily practices will help me to build up my spiritual household to better withstand the many storms coming beforehand, like the homeowner whose house withstood the storm! I believe routines such as these strengthen resilience to meet the demands ahead. Doing practices such as these are some little ways that can help bring The Kin-dom of Our Beloved into our midst and help energize and refresh us for larger events that may occur. 

 

Please take about 2 minutes to think about your choices for daily practices. Do you have any other practices to suggest?  I invite you to share how some of Diana Butler Bass’ Ten W’s may be helpful to you.                 (Discussion Time)

 

Intentions (for the next month in our daily intentions)

Katy: Response: Sophia Wisdom may The Reign of God be amongst us.

We pray to live with kindness, courage, empathy, understanding, compassion, honesty, gathering, community, oneness, attentiveness to those in need, healing the wounds of your sons and daughters. Response

 

We pray for those who commit acts of violence and injustice. Circle O Beloved those who have committed acts of violence and injustice, encircle them with your redirecting presence. Help them to learn compassion and leave hard-heartedness behind. Help them find the courage to turn away from that which tears apart; may they feel your love in a world filled with cruelty and hate.Help them to choose your way. In the name of the Sacred Three. May it be so!   Response

 

Please add your own intentions. Response 

 

Closing 

In closing, how can we support each other? Are any of you personally or with a group going to be involved in an action or project you wish us to know about?

 

 Let Your Light Shine by Kathy Sherman OSJ

Refrain:  Let your light shine in us, let your light shine in us and we will be light for the world. 

 

 



Meditation:

Our relationship with Jesus changes over time, from experiences I have, or from trauma, a challenge mentally, spiritually. Or when a new President is elected. Who is Jesus for me today? You may experience another wisdom figure.

 

Please get comfortable, relax your body, shrug away tightness, 

feet on floor, close your eyes

Breath in and breath out.

You see before you a blackboard, write your name on the board

It opens before you and you see a path

You step onto the path. 

You are led to a place that is safe and serene

You see a person walking toward you 

Welcome this one whom you know

You talk of your relationship

Ask any questions that flow from your present experience. Listen

It is time to leave however you may return here if you choose.

Walk onto the path and return to your room

open your eyes when you are ready. 

 

  

Memorial Service for Rev. Marianne Teresa Smyth ARCWP by Rev. Barbara Beadles RCWP

Memorial Service for Rev. Marianne Teresa Smyth- an ordained priest with the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests. Marianne’s primary ministry and passion was accompanying people in Hospice preparing to transition from earthly life  into the fullness of God’s love.

Now she has arrived there with them. We bless you our beloved sister and ask you to continue to walk with us as we work for a more inclusive, just and compassionate Church and world.

A special thanks to Rev. Barbara Beadles RCWP for this beautiful service at Gate of Heaven today.

Loving blessings,

Bridget Mary

Celebrating the Life of MarianneTeresa Smyth

February 6, 2025

Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, Maryland

August 25, 1943-January 10. 2025

Marianne Teresa Smyth

Celebrating the Life of Marianne TeresaSmyth

February 6, 2025, Noon

Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Silver Spring, Maryland

August 25, 1943-January 10. 2025

 

 

Memorial and Committal Rite

“What A Wonderful World”

Greeting (Marianne’s own words) Jim Broadbent

Invitation

In the name of our Mother/Father God, the son and the Holy Spirit.

All: Amen

Presider: Our sister, Marianne has gone to her rest in the peace of Christ. May our loving God welcome her to the table of Christ. May we who mourn be reunited with our sister. All: Amen

Scripture Luke 13:10-17 “The Woman Un-Bent” Leigh Broadbent

Psalm Written by Marianne read by Lauren and Kaitlin Broadbent

Ave Maria

Eulogies

Sr. Christine Kresho

Intercessions

Response: Hear our prayer

Presider Gracious God, draw to yourself all those who have died in Christ. In your mercy . . .

Remember all the good they have done. In your mercy . . .

Let us pray for all who mourn. Comfort them in their grief. In your mercy . . .

Lighten their sense of loss with your presence. In your mercy . . .

Increase our faith and strengthen our hope. In your mercy . . .

Keep us faithful in your service and kindle in our hearts a longing for Heaven. In your mercy . . .

Let us pray together the words our Savior gave us:

​Our Father/Mother in heaven, hallowed be your name. 

​Your kin-dom come; your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

​Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses ​as we forgive those who trespass against us.

​Let us not fall into temptation but deliver us from all evil.

​For yours is the kin-dom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.

 

Concluding Prayer

Presider: God of the living and the dead, accept our prayers for those who have died in Christ and are buried with him in the hope of rising again. Since they were true to your name on earth, let them praise you forever in the joy of heaven. We ask this in the name of your beloved son. 

Response: Amen

Blessing over the People (Please extend your hands to those around you as we bless each other)

Presider: Raise your hands and head to pray for God’s blessing.

May the peace of Christ which is beyond all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God  and of his son Jesus, the Christ.

All: Amen

May the love of God, constant creator, the peace of Chist resurrected son and joy of the Holy Spirit, bearer of wisdom, surround and encourage you all the days of your life.

All: Amen

Go in the peace of Christ.

All: Thanks be to God.

Committal

Dear Friends,

As we prepare to bury our sister Marianne, we recall that our bodies bear the imprint of the first creation when they were fashioned from dust; but in faith we remember, too, that by the new creation we also bear the image of Jesus who was raised to glory 

Faithful God, Lord of all creation, you desire that nothing redeemed by your son will ever be lost and we shall be raised up on the last day.

Comfort us today with the word of your promise as we return our sister to the earth.Grant Marianne a place of peace. Confirm us in our hope that she will be created anew when you will raise her up in glory. We pray in the name of Jesus the Christ. 

All: Amen

Presider: God of the living and the dead, accept our prayers for those who have died in Christ and are buried with him in the hope of rising again. Since they were true to your name on earth, let them praise you forever in the joy of heaven. We ask this in the name of your beloved son.

All: Amen

In the name of our Mother/Father God, the son and the Holy Spirit. Amen

Immigrant Rights According to Constitution

 https://www.redcardorders.com/

English:
I do not wish to speak with you, answer your questions, or sign or hand you any documents based on my 5th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution.
I do not give you permission to enter my home based on my 4th Amendment rights under the United States Constitution unless you have a warrant to enter, signed by a judge or magistrate with my name on it that you slide under the door.
I do not give you permission to search any of my belongings based on my 4th Amendment rights.
I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.
These cards are available to citizens and noncitizens alike.